Tag Archives: Hamza-extradition

Once upon a time way before the man from Texas became president of the United States, people in the world looked to America as a land in which an individual could receive a fair trial. Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri lost his appeal to block extradition from the United Kingdom to America where he is accused of trying to set up an al-Qaeda camp as well as other charges of inciting terrorism. HIs lawyers argued to send him to the United States would be “unjust and oppressive” because of the length of time since the dates to which the charges against him relate–1999 and 2000. They also do not believe he could receive a fair trial and that information being used against him by American legal authorities was obtained via use of torture.

British judges saw no reason to oppose the extradition request. The Egyptian born cleric who applauded the 9/11 attacks and was involved in plotting the capture of 16 Western hostages in Yemen is undoubtedly a man of violence. However, he does raise questions concerning the possibility he could receive a fair trial in the United States. Perhaps, one step in clarifying the fairness of American justice is to close down the Guantanamo prison and either release its prisoners or place them on trial in a civil court.